Texas Gov. Rick Perry, looking increasingly likely to enter the field for the Republican presidential nomination, is playing the states' rights card. In an appearance in New York Friday, Perry said the Empire State has the right to allow same-sex marriages, while conservative states like Texas have the right to oppose them. This is not a new stance from Perry, who has also said that the matter of medicinal marijuana should also be left to the states ... While Perry may be counting on the backing of social conservatives if he enters the Republican presidential contest, some of them are grumbling about his position on same-sex marriage. Conservative leader Gary Bauer, best known for leading the Family Research Council and making a bid for the Republican presidential nomination back in 2000, blasted Perry for backing the New York law. Bauer is not the only former Republican presidential nomination jabbing Perry these days from the right. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who ran for the Republican nomination, is targeting Perry for backing one of his rivals, the socially liberal former New York City MayorRudy Giuliani, in the 2008 primaries ... Speaking of Huckabee, it increasingly appears that he will remain neutral in the 2012 race despite his daughter working for former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and one of his closest aides joining the staff of former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania ...
On the New England front, former Gov. Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island backed former Gov. Mitt Romney of neighboring Massachusetts and hosted an event for him on Tuesday night. Carcieri endorsed Romney in 2008 as well ... Former New York Gov. George Pataki, who has left the door open to running for the Republican nod in 2012, will be headed to New Hampshire to speak at St. Anselm College ... Staying in New Hampshire, former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah may be based in Orlando but he is clearly looking at making a breakthrough in the Granite State. This week, Huntsman hired more staff in New Hampshire, bringing his total up there to 21 staffers ... Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama has not been very active in his longshot bid for the Republican nomination. Moore has been plagued with personal problems ranging from health issues after falling from a horse and, last week, his 20-year-old son was charged with DUI and possession of drugs ...
Both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden took a break this week from fundraising to focus on the debt-ceiling stalemate. They both postponed fundraisers as the stalemate continues in Washington ... Well, apparently Michelle Obama is not taking a page from the Hillary Clinton playbook. Asked this month if she intended to run for office down the road, the first lady said that she had no interest in running for office ... Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a liberal who caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate, is continuing to suggest that it would be good for Obama to face a primary challenge. So far, no major Democrat has emerged to take on Obama in the primaries and the only recognizable primary opponent is pro-life leader Randall Terry -- not exactly what Sanders had in mind ...
With Gen. David Petraeus turning over command in Aghanistan, rumors are already swirling that his next campaign will be running for the White House in 2012. While Petraeus has shown little interest in launching a White House bid, there has been speculation that he could get the support of the fledgling Americans Elect, which is encouraging users to take part in an interactive online presidential convention in June. Americans Elect already has ballot access in eight states ... New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who is an independent, has closed the door on running for the presidency in 2012 but, this week, he took the gloves off and ripped into both parties for the stalemate over the debt ceiling. Look for speculation to increase that the independently wealthy mayor will reconsider a 2012 bid ...The Libertarians are going all out to get ballot access in New Hampshire for the general election. They will need almost 13,700 signatures to make the ballot in the Granite State.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
